Phyllis Anne Cyr

Phyllis Ann Cyr passed peacefully on July 16, 2014 accompanied by her nephew Bob and close friend Heidi Anderson. She was preceded in death by her parents Anna and George Cyr, and a brother Virgil who died at the age of five. Phyllis left behind her sister Theresa Bladow and brother in law Willy Bladow, niece Janice Wilson (Terry Jolly), nephew Bob Nation (Jeanne), great nephews Mark Haynie, David Wilson, Brandon Nation (Camas), Ryan Nation (Caitlyn), Joe Nation (Amy Barlow) and Johnny Nation, great nieces Theresa Burns (Al) and Amy Nation (Nate Wallbaum), great-great nephews Quinn Haynie, Gavin Smith, Maverick Nation, Ezekiel Wallbaum and Noah Nation, great-great nieces Kalina Ayers (Steven), Justine Fanning, Emma Nation and Liv Nation, first cousin Leonard (Rosie) Houle, and many other cousins too numerous to mention.

Phyllis’ love of music and the arts began as a young child with her mother playing piano for silent pictures in Red Lake Falls, MN and her father owning the White House Saloon “even though he was a tea-totaler!” Phyllis moved to Yakima when she was just 5 years old. She attended St. Joseph’s Academy where she and 3 classmates started a quartet and performed many times on local radio. As a high school student, she performed in several plays at the Capitol Theatre, in leading roles, including “Pollyanna,” “Daddy Long Legs,” “Holiday,” “Peg of My Heart” and “Smiling Through.”

After one semester at the University of Washington, enrolled in Drama, Phyllis ran out of money so she opened a dance studio in a friend’s home to earn money for more classes. Eventually she headed to Hollywood where she trained with Max Reinhardt, Nico Charisse, and others before moving to New York.

Later, she founded the Civic Ballet of Southern California and choreographed, produced and directed shows for Dance Masters of America at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas.

Phyllis was honored for her work with Dance Masters including John Travolta as her dinner companion at the National Awards Banquet. She always remembered the night fondly and said; “John is the nicest, most humble man . . . and a darn good dancer, too!”

Phyllis also founded the Phyllis Cyr Academy in Huntington Beach, California. What started with 60 students and 1 instructor (herself) grew into one of America’s largest privately owned schools of its kind with over 2500 enrolled at the time of its sale.

One of her proudest achievements as an instructor was discovering and training Evelyn Cisneros, Prima Ballerina with the San Francisco Ballet Company whom “Miss Phyllis” taught from the tender age of 8.

Upon her final return to Yakima, she joined her sister, Terry Bladow who had formed The Granettes and took charge of training, costumes, choreography.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM August 4th in the Langevin-Mussetter Chapel.

Arrangements under the direction of Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home, Yakima, WA.